Photo by John Robert Taylor
The Regional Transportation Commission for Southern Nevada (RTC) has countless programs and services in place to make commuting in Las Vegas as convenient as possible. Unfortunately, unsavory characters enjoy the convenience along with the law-abiding public. When it comes to personal safety, there are some risks that can arise whenusing public transportation. Here’s five ways to change the odds in your favor.
Create lag time
During hand –to-hand combat training in Illinois, we (cops) were always told to keep our hands above our waist. The trainer was Officer Miller, a 6’3” 285lbs Midwestern farmer turned cop. If anyone placed their hands below their waist, Miller would remind the officer to keep them up…with a hard punch to the chest! I lowered my hands only once.
The point of such painful nostalgia is that reaction time is enhanced if your hands are above your waist. We called this, creating lag time. Loosely defined as “time to react,” lag time can be created anywhere…even at a bus stop. With all of the metal and unmovable parts, they are perfect for creating lag time. You will know that a potential attacker has to go around a bus bench or shelter wall to get close. Use this to your advantage with suspicious or potentially dangerous subjects. Also, consider creating lag time between yourself and subjects that are not particularly dangerous to you but capable of attracting danger. Narcotics dealers or prostitutes using the bus stop to deter law enforcement are examples of these types.
Be seen
If you have to walk an extra block or two just to stand or sit at a more populated and illuminated bus stop, take the walk. Also, whenever on a bus or monorail take note of the location of video surveillance. Criminals do. People are robbed, assaulted, or pick-pocketed less often in areas that are under surveillance.
Photo by John Robert Taylor
Beware of the urge to be kind
I can understand that some people feel better when they help others, however it’s better to reject people from time to time in a non-provoking manner. One of those times is when using public transportation. Consider the sickly looking person with a cardboard sign complaining of an urge for food. I remember apprehending an individual with this “act” after he punched a motorist’s window breaking it. He put up quite a methamphetamine-induced struggle in his attempt to avoid jail. Don’t let the act fool you, some of them are as strong as bulls, which is why they can pace up and down a median in the sun hours after you or I would’ve collapsed from dehydration. Once you give him or her a dollar, their “true” urge may generate a decision to attack you for whatever else you have. If he or she thinks that you’re broke, they may move on to an easier target.
Photo by John Robert Taylor
Always be mindful of your belongings
In my article on pickpockets, I mention that thieves love crowds. They also enjoy public transportation, specifically when groups are boarding or exiting a bus or monorail. Commuters are usually focused on paying their fare, finding a good seat, or hurrying to their destination. Distracted victims combined with a situation that facilitates escape, creates an ideal work environment for what I call fast-fingered predators. Throughout your trip on public transportation be mindful of your belongings and use the tactics in that article to protect them.
Don’t forget about traffic!
Many drivers lose control of their vehicle when attempting turns at high speeds. In Las Vegas, a vehicle that loses control during a left turn would more than likely crash into a bus bench. When researching for this article, I spoke to people that have used the public transportation in Las Vegas prolifically. One of these people was Mark Sedenquist, who mentioned the dangers of traffic for those using public transportation. Specially constructed barriers at many bus stops may slow down out of control vehicles, giving commuters time to flee but bus riders always need to keep an eye on the street traffic. Manage a balance between sight and protection. Remain seen yet place obstacles between your body and any vehicle that may jump the curb.
Once placed at intersections where a commuter could exit and immediately cross the roadway, bus stops are now yards away from the intersection. This is partly to ease the flow of traffic, however it does pose a problem when a bus rider needs to cross the roadway quickly to catch another bus. When hurrying across a busy street, contemplate the conditioning of modern roadways. Most drivers watch for vehicles and do not expect to see a pedestrian darting into their field of vision unless the light is red or they are at a crosswalk. Even though you can see them quite clearly, they may have no idea that you are there until it’s too late.
The use of public transportation in Las Vegas can save money, protect the environment, increase the life and value of personal vehicles, and alleviate the inconveniences traffic congestion. I hope the above listed methods will increase your odds of a successful commute.
I’m not positive that John Robert Taylor “got” my comment about the necessity of having bus patrons illegally jaywalking at crowded intersections. Because of the time-table of many of the connecting routes, and the fact that the bus stops are often 50+ yards away from the intersections and the crosswalks, it’s often a choice between missing the next bus (by walking to the intersection, waiting for the light, and then sprinting to the just-departed bus) or crossing illegally through the backed-cars over both sets of traffic to reach the bus stop before the next bus gets there. On both hot days and cold nights, it’s simply not acceptable to have stand in an unprotected bus stop for 20 to 30 minutes waiting for the next bus. (Or in some cases, an hour or more).
It’s crazy that the system is designed so that bus patrons feel like they have to break the law or risk being late to work or late to school.
I’ve crossed 6-8 lanes of heavy traffic myself, scores of times. It’s really troubling to watch parents forced to make the same kind of decisions. It’s one thing for a vehicle driver to try and watch for a 6-foot adult weaving through traffic at a light — but darn right scary to watch for kids that barely reach the top of my vehicle’s hood.
As a driver, I get irritated at jay walkers too, but I have much more empathy for why it is necessary.
M
Hi Mark,
You make a great point. While I’m not completely certain, I think I understood what you meant. That’s why I urged commuters to cross the roadway more carefully because the driver’s don’t expect to see them crossing. Most drivers I’ve spoken to say, “they came out of no where!” after hitting a pedestrian.
You’re right, it sucks that commuters are forced into that spot. When I asked around about the positioning of the bus stops, I was told that they were positioned to increase the flow of traffic. I would have spoken more about the scheduling but I didn’t get a return call from the person that could answer my question in time. Maybe I can submit an update here soon. I prefer the older method when the buses stopped near intersections. That way, even if there is no walk sign and a commuter is forced to cross the roadway illegally, they are crossing at an intersection where drivers are paying more attention. This is a big problem and there are a lot of vehicle versus pedestrian collisions near bus stops.
Thanks for the comment!
It’s really not “commuters” -it’s really just bus riders/patrons. Maybe this is a west coast thing — but if someone says “commuter” I never think of a bus — I think of cars, trucks, vans, and bicycles. Some people with a daily commute are forced to use the bus — but it’s got to be the least efficient way to get to work there is….